The word is that Miami Heat big man Bam Adebayo will train with All-World forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, while in the off-season this summer. Here’s what Bam could stand to learn the most from The Greek Freak.
According to a report from Shandel Richardson of The Athletic, Miami Heat big man Bam Adebayo will work out with Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer during the off-season. The connection is said to be the fact that they share the same agent.
The Miami Heat could use another guy who they can ask to make things happen with the ball, as this off-season breeds a ton of uncertainty. With that in mind, what are some things that Bam could borrow from The Freak? Here are your answers.
Ball Handling
Giannis Antetokounmpo is among the best in the league when he has the ball in his hands. Unlike most other NBA players who are nearly 7′ tall however, and outside of Kevin Durant, The Freak uses the ball in a myriad of different ways. He can post his guy up, and punish him from the paint, just ask Thon Maker of the Detroit Pistons.
He is also an adept slasher, making cuts toward the baskets, receiving the ball on the way and finishing with authority or other wise as he arrives at the rim. What makes him unique, however, is his uncanny ability to handle the ball for someone his size.
There are other big men in the league who have demonstrated an ability to handle the basketball well enough to be one of the main ball handlers for their teams, but Giannis is of a different breed. He handles as well as guards do, and uses it as well as smaller guys do to get to his spots and favorite shots.
Although The Freak is a naturally gifted ball handler, there are obviously drills, exercises, or specific work he has done to hone his skills to the point where they now are. This is an area where Bam Adebayo could stand to learn from Antetokounmpo quite a bit.
Gifted with ball skills and including somewhat of a handle in his own right, Adebayo is not quite on Antetokounmpo’s level when it comes to his handling ability. If he can somehow manage to steal a few of the techniques Giannis has used to improve his handle so substantially, that would be huge for Adebayo who is also developing a bit of a reliable jumper, and already has near elite finishing abilities.